"For early intervention to be possible, intake workers must always be alert to the possibility of abuse. They have to make a quick decision on the likelihood of abuse even at first contact. This first contact may be on the phone and may be brief, which is why it is particularly important to have a quick and easy screening method for case identification. Use of the BASE helps determine answers to questions such as: What kinds of abuse are more common? And, how quickly does intervention need to take place? The BASE provides a written assessment for the workers who subsequently become involved. Beyond an inititial BASE screening, a second and third screening to confirm or disconfirm the possibility of suspected abuse is most effective when completed immediately following: (1) A two-to-three hour home assessment interview; and (2) A case conference by a multidisciplinary team.
Project Care’s research findings indicated that the three successive administrations of the BASE help identify and predict cases of abuse; the incidence of abuse was approximately 9 – 14% of the cases screened among incoming health and social service agency clients."
Compassion and extra care go a long way to make people with dementia comfortable at the dentist. Sedation is an option for some patients who are particularly anxious or unco-operative. But the frail health condition of dementia patients sometimes precludes sedation. Dr. Mary McNally, a professor at Dalhousie University's School of Dentistry, is passionate about improving dental care for seniors at the school's elder care clinic. She spearheaded a large research and training project, called Brushing up on Mouth Care, which outlines what dementia is and how it can affect a patient's behaviour during dental care visits. McNally thinks consistent dental care is important given the prevalence of dental diseases such as cavities among people with dementia in long-term care, as well as the decreasing incidence of dentures among seniors generally.
The oral care manual houses information on all of the hands-on and educational tools developed as part of this project. It includes: Toolkits; Care Cards; Daily and annual oral health assessments; Posters;Information Sheets on topics such as proper technique for brushing and flossing; Oral care products and aids; and Educational Videos.
"This manual has been produced to assist educators, facilitators, Community Health and Human Service Workers, First Nation Community Members, Health Authority Staff, Community Response Network (CRN) Members and a wide range of adult learners to understand the complex dynamic of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults and older adults in First Nations communities, and to learn the roles and responsibilities of:
• Community Health and Human Service Workers
• Designated Agencies (Health Authorities, Adult Protection Services)
• Community Response Networks (CRN’s)
• Police & Victim Services
• Public Guardian & Trustee Offices"
Source: Vancouver Coastal Health
"The Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE) is a screening measure for detecting abuse of seniors. It is intended for use with all clients who are caregivers of seniors, whether or not abuse is suspected. The “Yes” responses on each of the eight CASE items may stimulate discussion that reveals abuse and/or neglect that might otherwise have gone undetected. In addition to indicating current abuse by caregivers, caregiver responses to CASE may be indicative of tendencies and stresses that could lead to possible abuse in the future. In such cases, a proactive approach to intervention may help prevent the development of abuse. Interpretation: After a caregiver completes the entire screen, the “Yes” responses are tallied; the more “Yes” responses, the more likely the presence of abuse. Each “Yes” response should also be probed for clinical information. To further assess the situation, the worker should ask the caregiver to explain his or her answer."
"The Indicators of Abuse (IOA) checklist signals mistreatment of seniors. The IOA (pronounced Iowa) also helps sensitize the practitioner to important abuse issues. The IOA is practical for busy practitioners and useful in training intervenors and volunteers in cases of abuse to recognize the signs of abuse. The IOA is a summary of abuse high-risk signals. It is not, however, a substitute for becoming knowledgeable about abuse signs through education."
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